Tuyen Quang ethnic groups observe Long Tong festival

Ethnic groups in the northern mountainous province of Tuyen Quang
on February 26 held the Long Tong (going to the field) festival – an
annual ritual of the Tay ethnic people that became part of the
national intangible cultural heritage in 2013.

Amidst the spring festive atmosphere, the locals as well as visitors
flocked to the provincial Chiem Hoa district for the age-old agriculture
festival, which is traditionally observed on the eighth day of the
first lunar month to pray for favourable weather, bumper crops, and
happiness.

The annual event began with a parade of
nine trays of local specialties as offering to gods to thank them for
good crops and hope for a well-off and blissful life in the New Year.

It was followed by a lion dance performed by
youngsters, a Tich Dien (ploughing) ceremony, and folk games such as tug
of war, stick pushing and cloth ball throwing.

The
festival, which is also popular in other northern mountainous
provinces such as Bac Kan , Thai Nguyen, Cao Bang, Lang Son and Ha
Giang, has become a tourist attraction every Spring.

In addition to Long Tong festival, Tuyen Quang province boasts other
national intangible cultural heritage, namely Then singing of the Tay
ethnic minority group, “cap sac” (coming-of-age) and “Pao dung” singing
of the Dao ethnic group.-VNA